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field speedwell, green field speedwell, green procumbent speedwell, véronique agreste

bird's-eye speedwell, Germander speedwell, véronique petit-chêne

Habit Annuals. Perennials.
Stems

creeping to decumbent, 5–25 cm, hairy.

ascending, rarely erect, (7–)10–30(–50) cm, densely eglandular-hairy, hairs along stem in 2 prominent lines.

Leaves

blade elliptic-ovate to oblong, (6–)8–16(–19) × (3–)4–10(–13) mm, base truncate, margins serrate, teeth 4–6(–8) per side, apex obtuse to acute, abaxial surface ± more densely hairy than adaxial.

blade narrowly ovate to ovate-orbiculate, (10–)12–30(–42) × (6–)10–22(–30) mm, 1–2 times as long as wide, base truncate to ± cordate, margins crenate to deeply incised, apex obtuse, surfaces variably hairy.

Racemes

1–5, terminal, 50–250 mm, 5–15-flowered, axis eglandular-hairy, sometimes glandular-hairy;

bracts elliptic-ovate to oblong, (6–)9–16(–19) mm.

1–4, axillary, 40–100(–200) mm, 15–40(–60)-flowered, axis eglandular-hairy, sometimes also glandular-hairy;

bracts linear-elliptic, 3–7 mm.

Pedicels

deflexed, (5–)6–10(–15) mm, ± shorter than subtending bracts, densely eglandular- and, sometimes, glandular-hairy distally.

suberect, (3–)5–8(–10) mm, equal to or shorter than subtending bract, eglandular- and glandular-hairy.

Flowers

calyx lobes linear-lanceolate, (5–)6–7 mm, 2.2–2.6 mm wide, apex rounded, sparsely eglandular- or glandular-hairy;

corolla white or pale pinkish or pale blue, 4–5(–6) mm diam.;

stamens 0.5–1 mm;

style (0.6–)0.9–1.1(–1.2) mm.

calyx 4-lobed, lobes 2–8 mm, apex acute, eglandular- and, sometimes, glandular-hairy;

corolla blue obscure darker nerves and sometimes whitish margin, (6–)10–14(–17) mm diam.;

stamens 4.5–6.5 mm;

style (2.5–)4–5 mm.

Capsules

± compressed in cross section, ± subglobular, 3.5–4.5(–4.7) × 4.5–6(–6.3) mm, apex emarginate, sparsely glandular-hairy.

strongly compressed in cross section, obcordiform to obdeltoid, (2–)3.5–4(–5) × (3.5–)4–5(–5.5) mm, apex ± emarginate, eglandular-hairy.

Seeds

6–14, yellow to ochre, globular, cymbiform, 1.3–2.1 × 1–1.6 mm, 0.6–1.1 mm thick, strongly rugose (transversely ribbed).

(2–)12–20(–28), yellow, ellipsoid, flat, 1.1–1.7 × 0.6–1.5 mm, 0.2–0.4 mm thick, smooth to subrugose.

2n

= 28 (Europe).

= 16, 32 (Eurasia).

Veronica agrestis

Veronica chamaedrys

Phenology Flowering May–Oct. Flowering Apr–Jun(–Oct).
Habitat Light, noncalcareous, moist soils, gravelly soils. Rich soils, deciduous forests, forest edges, roadsides, chaparral, scrub, meadows, lawns.
Elevation (0–)300–800 m. ((0–)1000–2600 ft.) 0–2200 m. (0–7200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
DC; FL; IL; LA; MA; NY; PA; TX; VT; NF; NS; QC; Europe [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; CT; DC; ID; IL; IN; MA; MD; ME; MI; MO; MT; NC; NH; NJ; NY; OH; OR; PA; RI; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; AB; BC; NB; NF; NS; ON; PE; QC; Eurasia [Introduced in South America (Argentina)]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Veronica agrestis is similar to the more frequent V. persica and probably frequently overlooked and to be expected elsewhere. However, it should be noted that it is less common than V. persica or V. polita and always in more humid habitats.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

The description provided here for Veronica chamaedrys is solely for the tetraploid cytotype, most probably the exclusive cytotype in the flora area and in central and western Europe. The diploid cytotype is so far only known from eastern and southeastern Europe (K. E. Bardy et al. 2010). A significant change in morphology can occur in shaded habitats, in which especially the petiole can be elongated beyond the range given.

It is unclear whether Veronica chamaedrys is introduced throughout the flora area; it may be native in northeastern areas of North America.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 320. FNA vol. 17, p. 318.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Veronica Plantaginaceae > Veronica
Sibling taxa
V. alpina, V. americana, V. anagallis-aquatica, V. argute-serrata, V. arvensis, V. beccabunga, V. biloba, V. catenata, V. chamaedrys, V. copelandii, V. cusickii, V. cymbalaria, V. dillenii, V. filiformis, V. fruticans, V. grandiflora, V. hederifolia, V. longifolia, V. officinalis, V. peregrina, V. persica, V. polita, V. scutellata, V. serpyllifolia, V. spicata, V. stelleri, V. sublobata, V. teucrium, V. triloba, V. triphyllos, V. undulata, V. verna, V. wormskjoldii
V. agrestis, V. alpina, V. americana, V. anagallis-aquatica, V. argute-serrata, V. arvensis, V. beccabunga, V. biloba, V. catenata, V. copelandii, V. cusickii, V. cymbalaria, V. dillenii, V. filiformis, V. fruticans, V. grandiflora, V. hederifolia, V. longifolia, V. officinalis, V. peregrina, V. persica, V. polita, V. scutellata, V. serpyllifolia, V. spicata, V. stelleri, V. sublobata, V. teucrium, V. triloba, V. triphyllos, V. undulata, V. verna, V. wormskjoldii
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 13. (1753) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 13. (1753)
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